Flight Safety Information October 9, 2015 - No. 201 In This Issue FAA Backs Ban on Shipping Lithium Batteries on Commercial Airlines Roger That: Congress seeks damages from fire to aircraft caused by loose nut Delta Air Lines flight turns around after bird strike Private flying technology improves air safety Centre asks Air India to hire more pilots, cabin crew Pilots Can't Stop Cockpit Video Forever Small plane PARACHUTES safely to earth after the pilot dives down so quickly its wings are ripped off K9 teams training at DFW Airport Ethiopia: Aviation Safety Workshop Underway Emirates cozies up to Alaska Airlines to defend against Delta in growing Seattle market Why airplane makers keep trying to patent horrifying seating arrangements SpiceJet to add six new aircraft, 41 more flights Ready for pilots to fly your airliner by voice commands? U.S. Export-Import Bank saga risks Boeing jet orders - Ethiopian Airlines China plane maker reveals stealth jet capabilities to lure buyers Wifi in the sky finally set to get speed upgrade NASA Report Details Long-Range Plans for Astronauts to Live on Mars Scientists get taste for space flight at Embry-Riddle Airport Cooperative Research Project iSMS - Safety Management System Training Upcoming Events JOBS AVAILABLE (New Positions) FAA Backs Ban on Shipping Lithium Batteries on Commercial Airlines WASHINGTON -- The risk of fire is prompting federal officials to back a proposed ban on rechargeable lithium battery shipments as cargo on passenger airlines. "We believe the risk is immediate and urgent," Angela Stubblefield, a Federal Aviation Administration hazardous materials official, said at a public meeting on Thursday. She cited research showing the batteries can cause explosions and fires capable of destroying a plane. Billions of the lithium-ion batteries are used to power consumer electronics ranging from cellphones and laptops to power tools and toothbrushes. Tens of thousands of the batteries are often shipped on a single plane. FAA tests show that even a small number of overheating batteries emit gases that can cause explosions and fires that can't be prevented by current fire suppression systems. Thursday's meeting was called to discuss what position the U.S. will take on the issue at an upcoming international aviation safety meeting. The International Civil Aviation Organization, a U.N. panel, is scheduled to take up the question of the safety of battery shipments at a meeting in Montreal later this month. ICAO issues global aviation safety standards, although it's up to countries whether to adopt them. The International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations has proposed that the panel adopt a ban until better packaging or other measures can be developed to reduce the risk. How Scientists Plan to Spark Future Battery Breakthroughs Earlier this year, aircraft makers including Boeing and Airbus called the battery shipments an "unacceptable risk." Boeing and Airbus also sent service bulletins to their airline customers warning of the risks revealed by FAA's tests. As a result of the FAA tests, more than a dozen airlines have stopped accepting any battery shipments, or large quantities of batteries shipped together. ICAO also sent a bulletin to airlines this summer urging them to conduct safety assessments of their cargo operations to determine if they can safely handle battery shipments. Janet McLaughlin, another FAA hazardous materials official, told the meeting that the U.S. position at the ICAO meeting will be that the ban should include all cargo shipments of the lithium batteries on passenger planes, not just bulk battery shipments. The ban wouldn't apply to cargo airlines or to other kinds of batteries. It also wouldn't apply to lithium-ion batteries that are packed inside equipment. For example, a shipment of cellphones with lithium batteries inside them would still be allowed. FAA officials have said being inside a device lessens the risk that a short-circuiting battery will affect other batteries. Officials from the rechargeable battery and cargo airline industries spoke against a ban at the meeting. Passenger airlines are often paid by cargo airlines to carry shipments to destinations they don't service. A passenger airline ban would means some places around the world won't be able to receive battery shipments, industry officials said. George Kerchner, executive director of the Rechargeable Battery Association, said some airlines have conducted the safety assessments and determined they can safely transport the batteries. He said the FAA should leave the question of whether to transport lithium batteries up to the airlines, which are better able to determine what they can do safely than the government. Airlines flying to and from the U.S. that accept lithium battery shipments carry 26 million passengers a year, Stubblefield said. http://www.nbcnews.com/business/travel/faa-backs-ban-shipping-lithium-batteries- commercial-airlines-n441096 Back to Top Roger That: Congress seeks damages from fire to aircraft caused by loose nut Air Force wants defense contractor to pay $62 million A lawmaker is pressing the Air Force to make L-3 Communications Holdings Inc. pay as much as $62 million in damages from an aircraft fire that investigators linked to a loose nut that company maintenance workers failed to tighten in the plane's oxygen system, according to Stars and Stripes. The rear cabin fire on an RC-135 Rivet Joint intelligence aircraft during takeoff on April 30 at Offut Air Force Base in Nebraska aborted the training mission, risking the lives of 27 personnel. A picture in the official Air Force report on its accident investigation showed "a dark hole burnt through the center of the aircraft," according to the lawmaker, Representative Jackie Speier of California. http://www.bnd.com/news/local/article38191089.html Back to Top Delta Air Lines flight turns around after bird strike Passengers say bird was red-tailed hawk SEATAC, Wash. - A Delta Air Lines flight turned around after a bird hit an engine Thursday afternoon. An alert came in for flight 281 shortly after 3:30 p.m. on Thursday. The flight took off from Sec-Tac headed to Hong Kong; the plane was over the Olympics when it turned around. The A-330 either dumped or burned fuel as it for an emergency landing. It landed safely and heavy, meaning it had a lot of fuel, shortly before 4:20 p.m. >> VIDEO: Sea-Tac shows KIRO 7 how to protect passengers on planes from bird strikes One passenger saw the engine burst into flames and others heard a thump, Sea-Tac spokesman Perry Cooper said. The bird was a red-tailed hawk that hit the landing gear and was sucked into the engine. The passengers are trying to get vouchers, including some who planned a trip to Hong Kong Disney. It's not clear exactly how many people are onboard. "Out of an abundance of caution, the crew of Delta flight 281 from Seattle to Hong Kong made the decision to return to Sea-Tac International after a possible bird strike was observed after take-off," a delta spokesman said. "No emergency has been declared. Delta technicians will examine the aircraft and a decision will be made on the flight's status as soon as possible. Safety of our customers and crew is always Delta's top priority." http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/delta-air-line-flight-lands-after-turning- around/nnyMc/ Back to Top Private flying technology improves air safety OLATHE, Kan. - Flying privately may be the most efficient and safest way to travel. And if new technology continues to improve at its rapid pace, may be the most popular way to travel in the future. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the total number of U.S. civil aviation accidents as declined each year but one since 2007. The vendors who attended the Great Plains Air Expo in Olathe can attribute much of the decline to avionics. "Avionics technology has far surpassed where I expected it to be years ago, " said pilot and Textron Aviaton employee Jay Bushouse. "It interacts with the pilot, makes it easier, safer and more efficient to operate as a pilot." Avionics have been around for 11 years but the recent release of the 'Garmin 3000' only proves that the technology is taking exponential leaps. "You get situational awareness. You know where other traffic is. You get collision avoidance and alerts. You get terrain avoidance," said Mark Vanderpool of Textron Aviation. Keith Vasey has been a pilot for nearly 30 years and said avionics continues to be a complete game-changer. "Twenty years ago all navigation was done with round dials and needles that would go back and forth and that was your frame of reference," said Vasey of Piper Aircraft. And planes are continuing to be more efficient. Vasey displayed a 2015 model Diamond DA40, a plane he says is the future because of its diesel engine. As planes continue to improve efficiency, the more traditional pistol engines that intake 100 octane low-lead fuel continue to be phased out. "It's very efficient. It burns a whole lot less fuel. Has greater speed and greater reliability," said Vasey. The planes shown at the Johnson County Executive Airport on Thursday, October 8, 2015, ranged from $200,000 to $8.3 million and are meant for those who travel frequently. Total U.S. civil aviation number of accidents - according to the NTSB: 2014 (preliminary) - 1287 2013 - 1298 2012 - 1537 2011 - 1553 2010 - 1500 2009 - 1554 2008 - 1659 2007 - 1745 Vasey says you should expect a little over a year of training and flying with an instructor before being able to fly solo. http://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/watch-private-flying-technology-improves-air- safety Back to Top Centre asks Air India to hire more pilots, cabin crew NEW DELHI: The civil aviation ministry has asked Air India to hire more pilots and cabin crew after it found that the national carrier is still reeling under a shortage that is resulting in delay of flights. The recruitment process, which will begin with the carrier ascertaining the number of people required, comes shortly after Air India hired more than 900 cabin crew members and 220 pilots. The airline has a strength of 3,500 cabin crew members and 1,500 pilots. "The civil aviation ministry has asked us to hire more to tide over the problem of availability of pilots and cabin crew for flights. The ministry asked us to carry out hiring after the operations department complained about the unavailability of crew," said an Air India executive, who did not want to be identified. The directive came in a meeting called by civil aviation secretary RN Choubey last week to review the performance of the national carrier, which is amidst a government bailout of over Rs 30,000 crore to be provided till 2021-22. The carrier's poor on-time performance has been a concern for its management and the government for some time, with shortage of pilots and cabin crew being cited as a key reason. Air India was earlier allowed to bridge the deficit by hiring cabin crew members and pilots. It is also in the process of hiring another 200 trainees from various flying institutes in the country, including government-owned Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Udan Academy. "The airline has improved its on-time performance but needs to improve it further," said a civil aviation ministry official. According to data released by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Air India operated least number of flights on time in August. While Air India operated 76.1 per cent of its flights on time, Vistara led the charts by operating 95.1 per cent of its flights on time. Another Air India executive, however, said the shortage is due to mismanagement and the airline has enough on its rolls. "Pilots and cabin crew complain that rosters are changed after being finalised and that is the biggest reason behind the shortage. We do not need to hire if we can manage the existing strength well," said the executive, who did not wish to be identified. An internal survey earlier this year revealed that the carrier changes the rosters nearly half the time, causing confusion and in turn delays. The report was based on data collated over six-seven months to February. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/centre- asks-air-india-to-hire-more-pilots-cabin-crew/articleshow/49280692.cms Back to Top Pilots Can't Stop Cockpit Video Forever Crash investigators want the FAA to require cameras in the air. Alan Levin It was after 11 p.m. on March 30, 2013, when the Alaska Department of Public Safety helicopter lifted off near Talkeetna, north of Anchorage, after rescuing a stranded snowmobiler. Freezing rain was changing to heavier snow, and visibility was decreasing. Within minutes the chopper had crashed, killing its pilot, a state trooper, and the person they'd been sent to rescue. Usually, investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board have to guess what went wrong in such situations. But when they examined the chopper's charred wreckage, they found a treasure in the ashes: a cockpit video recorder. The footage, from a camera mounted on the ceiling behind pilot Mel Nading, ruled out mechanical problems or ice as factors in the crash. Rather, investigators could see that Nading was confused. He allowed the helicopter to slow and start rocking back and forth, then reached out and reset the device that should show whether the craft is flying level-a decision that sealed his fate, making it "very unlikely that he would regain control of the helicopter," the NTSB said in its report. In the dark, without an accurate reading, Nading had no way of knowing which way was up. "It really gave us the insight that this pilot was spatially disoriented," says John DeLisi, the NTSB's chief aviation investigator. "Without that video, we would have been looking at a pile of burned-up wreckage, trying to figure out what caused the erratic flight path that led to this crash." Appareo's Vision 1000 flight data and video recording system. Since 2000, the NTSB has recommended that the Federal Aviation Administration require cockpit cameras. The Air Line Pilots Association, North America's largest flight crew union, has opposed the change, arguing that video can be misleading, especially where it's not clear whether a pilot is fighting a malfunction or causing a plane to lose control. The money spent on cameras would be better invested in training and other safety measures, the union says. "Cameras in the cockpit will not prevent a single accident," ALPA President Tim Canoll said in a statement. The problem for the union is that video equipment has become so cheap that cameras are increasingly common in aircraft. That's made their benefit more than theoretical. After the Talkeetna accident, Alaska's public safety agency began requiring pilots to receive instrument training every 90 days so they'd be able to navigate in whiteout conditions. (Nading hadn't had such training since 2003.) It also tightened flight restrictions in bad weather. "Video recorders in the cockpit can provide information that would not otherwise be available," says NTSB Chairman Christopher Hart. "Simply put, more information is better. And video, by its nature, has proven to be a rich source of it." In 2014 the agency examined 60 cameras in aviation cases. Most involved small, privately owned planes, or were from surveillance cameras outside the plane. They included the crash of Virgin Galactic's passenger spaceship, which broke up during a test flight in October 2014 over the Mojave Desert. Recordings showed one of the two pilots, Michael Alsbury, activating a critical switch too early, triggering the midair breakup. Alsbury was killed. The other pilot survived after parachuting to the ground. Companies such as Appareo Systems, Outerlink Global Solutions, and L-3 Communications Holdings sell cockpit video devices, some of them for less than $10,000. Airbus Helicopters, a division of Airbus Group, installs Appareo's Vision 1000 video recorder standard on several models as a safety enhancement, according to spokesman Bob Cox. Cockpit camera units are generally capable of storing flight data as well as video, giving a complete picture of how the aircraft was being flown. On larger planes with sophisticated systems, the video can be stored with flight data and voice recordings inside the black box, which can withstand sudden impact and jet fuel fires. According to the NTSB, smaller units such as the Appareo Vision 1000, which was on the Alaska Department of Public Safety helicopter, often survive despite being less well protected. An FAA spokesman referred to letters the agency has sent the NTSB saying that it has no plans to revise its policy on cockpit cameras. At least one U.S. lawmaker, Florida Republican Representative John Mica, says he'll push for a cockpit video requirement next year, when Congress is scheduled to pass legislation reauthorizing the aviation agency. The NTSB's findings in Alaska and elsewhere, he says, "certainly give us additional support." The bottom line: The spread of cockpit video technology is boosting the NTSB's push to make it standard in aircraft. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-08/pilots-can-t-stop-cockpit-video- forever Back to Top Small plane PARACHUTES safely to earth after the pilot dives down so quickly its wings are ripped off above Slovenia * Ultralight aircraft had wings torn off after it picked up too much speed * Pilot, a 54-year-old Austrian man, deployed a parachute last minute * The parachute took the pilot and his passenger, 35, safely to the ground An Austrian pilot saved his own life and that of his passenger when he used a parachute to land his plane after the wings were torn off mid-air. The unnamed pilot had reportedly flown his ultralight aircraft at too high speed through a cloud bank, resulting in the wings being ripped off. The quick-thinking 54-year-old then deployed a parachute, which carried the plane safely back to the ground in Bovec, Slovenia. Incredible moment parachute brings plane safely down Safe landing: The 54-year-old pilot and his 35-year-old passenger were parachuted to safety over Slovenia The man and his 35-year-old passenger had been travelling from Venice back to Austria in his ultralight aircraft, a Pipistrel Virus. As they were flying over Slovenia, the pilot reportedly got into difficulties after running into a cloud bank. According to initial reports, he executed a diving manoeuvre that saw him to picking up too much speed as he headed to the ground. An air accident official told local media in Slovenia: 'By trying to get out of the cloud the aeroplane picked up too much speed, and that put too much pressure on the structure. The pilot had done a diving manoeuvre which led to the plane picking up too much speed, ripping the wings off Touch down: The pilot's quick thinking in deploying the parachute saved his and his passenger's lives The Pipistrel Virus is an ultralight two-seater civil utility aircraft which only weighs 626lbs when empty The parachute had apparently only been deployed absolutely last-minute preventing a major disaster that almost certainly would have killed both people on the plane. The Pipistrel Virus is an ultralight two-seater civil utility aircraft which only weighs 626lbs (284kg) when empty. The plane has a wingspan of 11m - just over 36ft - and can only weight a maximum of 1,323lbs (600kg) at take-off. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3265175/Small-plane-PARACHUTES-safely- earth-pilot-dives-quickly-wings-ripped-Slovenia.html#ixzz3o44H7tEb Back to Top K9 teams training at DFW Airport DFW AIRPORT -- Dozens of first responders from across the country and their four- legged partners are training at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport this week. K9s from 13 airports as far as Nova Scotia, Canada and Washington are sniffing out explosives with skilled dogs from Texas, Denver, Ohio and other locations. Many of them can't board planes to practice finding bombs, so they travel to North Texas' busiest airport to do so. "Essentially it's a game of hide and seek," explained Sgt. Corey Buer with DFW's Department of Public Safety K9 Unit and Bomb Squad. They're playing a game now that could end up saving your life later. "The threats are coming here so we need to have our K9 teams prepared for that," he said. The K9s and their partners are spending five days testing their bomb-sniffing skills. "We're running the dogs through training scenarios involving large amounts of explosives," said Buer. In some cases, a thousand pounds or more. "The dogs are just not used to finding this large amount," he added. K9 teams training at DFW International Airport Sgt. Robert Paris and his team drove five hours from the San Antonio International Airport to train. "This training is working out very good for us," he said. Good because he can see the dogs in action outside of their comfort zone. "Sometimes we're called for venues outside our airport, such as football fields or convention centers, so this helps the dogs acclimate to places they're not used to," said Paris. What makes these dogs so valuable is their sense of smell that crushes that of humans. It's about 1,000 times stronger than ours, thanks to as many as 300 million scent glands in their noses. Humans have only five million. Canines' superior sense of smell helped one dog quickly locate C-4. The military explosive was tucked inside an out-of-service American Airlines jet. Other dogs successfully detected it in luggage. What's a dog to do if a bomb already blows? Stop a second blast from happening. "We need to train the dogs to work through the odors associated with the detonation in order to find any other explosives that might be present," said Buer from the airport's bomb squad practice site. It's crucial training in the post-9/11 era. "The terrorists' use of explosives has really increased worldwide, and it's just going to get worse," he said. Airports pack a lot of precious cargo. Consider DFW Alone. It's the fourth busiest airport in the world. A record 63 million travelers made their way through there last year. The airport covers 17,000 acres, which is about the size of Manhattan. "Just this past January, we had a flight diverted here. It was in route to Orlando," recalled Buer. "A threat popped up on Twitter and so the plane had to make an emergency landing here." K9s pawed their way through and luckily found nothing, but as the saying goes: "Better to be safe than sorry." http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/2015/10/08/k9-teams-training-at-dfw- airport/73570480/ Back to Top Ethiopia: Aviation Safety Workshop Underway The objective of the workshop is to gather African colleagues and share experiences on aerodrome and the like to develop a path forward and improve civil aviation safety. US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Comprehensive Aerodrome Safety Workshop kicked off Monday here in the capital. In his opening remark, Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority Aviation Regulation Deputy Director General Gobena Guangul said the objective of the workshop is to share experiences on the aerodrome safety, search and rescue operations. Gobena said that most aircraft accidents occur at or near the airports during the departure and arrival time as a result of absence of necessary care and underscored the need for the safety regulation body to continuously improve its safety oversight capability. Africa FAA Senior Representative Stone Grady for his part said the objective of the workshop is to gather African colleagues and share experiences on aerodrome and the like to develop a path forward and improve civil aviation safety throughout the continent. Stone added that America will also gain experience from Africa aviation. Experts from Ethiopia, Ghana and the United States are expected to present their aviation experiences, he said. Ethiopia has wonderful facilities with great airlines giving a wider scope of service, that attendees find it easy to fly to Addia, Stone said. Representatives of FAA and over 20 African countries are attending the workshop which will continue until October 9. http://allafrica.com/stories/201510071674.htm Back to Top Emirates cozies up to Alaska Airlines to defend against Delta in growing Seattle market One of the world's largest international airlines has become closely allied with far-smaller Alaska Airlines (NYSE: ALK) as the two fight for market share against rival Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL). About a third of the passengers Emirates books for its twice-daily flights from Seattle- Tacoma International Airport to Dubai connect to Alaska Airlines flights. Emirates 777s like this, at Sea-Tac, are a third filled with passengers connecting to Alaska Air flights. That partnership, Matthias Schmid, Emirates vice president of U.S. sales, said is increasingly fruitful. "The object of both partners is to increase that percentage by optimizing schedules," he said in an exclusive interview this week. "We're working very closely with colleagues in Alaska to improve connectivity on the Alaska network." This coupling of Emirates with Seattle-based Alaska will be a significant asset for the smaller airline as it strives to stay independent in the world of consolidating global carriers. The stronger the company's relationships are with these larger airlines, the easier it will be to fend off a potential acquirer. Seattle is important for Emirates because companies such as Microsoft, Boeing and the Gates Foundation need to connect people in the areas the company serves, Schmid said. It's also one of the fastest-growing cities and airports in the country. Emirates, Alaska spokeswoman Bobbie Egan, is an important international partner. The partnership is helping both companies combat Delta. Since Delta made Sea-Tac its West Coast international gateway in 2013, Alaska and other national carriers have been working together more closely. "Both of us are in a similar position," Schmid said. "By teaming up, we really believe we are offering customers good alternatives especially compared to Delta, which is heavily investing in that gateway." Emirates started its second Seattle flight July 7, and could be upgrading the jet size or adding more capacity later, Schmid said. Adding the second flight has been important, because it offers better connections into secondary destinations like Africa. "Since we offered double daily, we have seen a huge increase in flights to the Alaska network and from Alaska network to Dubai and beyond," Schmid said. Portland, Boise, Vancouver, B.C. and Calgary, B.C. have been among the most important connecting cities. Alaska and Emirates currently honor each others' frequent flyer miles, and they're talking about closer ties, Schmid said. Alaska operates by far the most flights out of Sea-Tac, with Delta now a strong second. Emirates focuses only on long-range flights, operating a fleet of Boeing 777s and Airbus A380s out of its Dubai hub, with a special focus on connecting the West to South Asia, the Middle East and Africa. http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2015/10/08/emirates-cozies-up-to-alaska- airlines-todefend.html Back to Top Why airplane makers keep trying to patent horrifying seating arrangements (Airbus via USPTO) European plane maker Airbus filed a patent for a seating design that would literally stack passengers on top of each other. If it ever makes it to market, the layout could turn planes into a complex game of human Tetris. (Airbus via USPTO) The whole thing basically sounds something thought up by The Onion. And in fact, it was. But this isn't the first time Airbus seating proposals have made flying seem like some form of modern torture. Last year, the company made headlines for filing a patent for a bicycle-like "sitting" arrangement that certainly didn't look like it would be comfortable over a long-haul flight. (Airbus via USPTO) And Airbus isn't alone: One major airline seat manufacturer grabbed attention in July after filing a patent for a honeycomb like setup that would leave passengers sitting knee to knee. But plane designers aren't exploring these options just to make people uncomfortable. Instead, blame the democratization of flying. Taking a plane trip has gotten an awful lot cheaper over the last 30 years, which is great because more people than ever are able to travel long distances to take vacations and see loved ones. But with the rise of less expensive flights and discount airlines, profit margins have gotten thinner. And one way operators can keep prices low is stuffing more people on a plane. That's why airline seats keep shrinking. But there's a limit to how narrow you can make a chair. If the industry wants to continue to expand the market of who can afford to fly, even more compromises will probably have to be made. So expect to see more cramped and confusing plane seat patents in the future. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2015/10/07/why-airplane- makers-keep-trying-to-patent-horrifying-seating-arrangements/ Back to Top SpiceJet to add six new aircraft, 41 more flights NEW DELHI: Budget passenger carrier SpiceJet on Friday said it has embarked upon a major fleet and flight expansion programme for the upcoming winter season. It said it will induct six new aircraft within 30 days, calling the move "a first of its kind initiative in the history of Indian aviation". Presently, the airline has in its next generation fleet 20 Boeing 737 and 1 Airbus A319 aircraft along with 14 Bombardier Q-400 aircraft. According to the airline, the fresh induction was part of a comprehensive plan to meet the winter demand. SpiceJet also unveiled a new winter schedule, raising a total daily flight operation to 291 from the current 250, adding 10 new sectors, 30 new frequencies and 22 connecting flights. "We have been speedily moving on the growth path by consistently adding new flights to enhance our overall network," said Shilpa Bhatia, senior vice president and head of sales and distribution, SpiceJet. "With the new network schedule, we are offering better timings, increased frequencies. With this enhancement we have significantly growing our capacity by 16 percent." It said the newly added sectors in the winter schedule effective from October 25 were Ahmedabad-Goa, Mumbai-Varanasi and Varanasi-Hyderabad. The flights for Khozhikode- Dubai and Amritsar-Dubai are to start from November 15. Under the winter schedule, the airline has reinforced its frequencies on multiple routes such as Mumbai-Chennai, Delhi-Chennai, Goa-Mumbai, Delhi-Kolkata, Kolkata-Agartala, Mumbai-Kochi, Hyderabad-Mumbai and Chennai-Madurai among others. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/SpiceJet-to-add-six-new- aircraft-41-more-flights/articleshow/49286846.cms Back to Top Ready for pilots to fly your airliner by voice commands? Story highlights * Engineers developing cockpit system to control airliners with voice commands * Future airline cockpits might allow pilots to control planes with touch screens * Visual displays may let airliners take off, land in blinding weather -- reducing flight cancellations Cedar Rapids, Iowa (CNN)My hand grips the airplane control stick as I brace myself in the cockpit. Spread out in front of me is a breathtaking landscape stretching hundreds of miles. I've never flown a plane in my life. But now, I'm about to steer -- using my voice. "Turn left, heading 0-6-0," I command, feeling a little like an airline pilot. A female mechanical voice repeats back: "Turn left, heading 0-6-0." To confirm, I press a tiny red button on the cockpit control stick. Suddenly the horizon in front of me banks sharply to the right. Well, no, I'm not actually flying a real plane. I'm operating a machine that simulates how airline pilots will fly in the future. The friendly engineers here at Rockwell Collins' Advanced Technology Center in Iowa are letting me play with their new pilot voice recognition technology. Hey, do these folks know they've let a kid run loose in an avgeek candy store? This is sophisticated stuff. In fact, the Pentagon uses speech recognition systems aboard its top-shelf fighter jet, the F-35. Maybe someday your airliner pilot will do the same. Engineer Geoff Shapiro, who's showing me how the simulator works, hopes this technology can save airline pilots crucial seconds after they receive commands from controllers. "A complicated command from air traffic control can take pilots up to 30 seconds to actually turn all the knobs, hit all the buttons and make that change actually occur," Shapiro says. The speech recognition system cuts that time to eight seconds, he says, giving pilots 22 more seconds to "spend keeping their eyes out looking to see where the traffic is, looking to see where the weather is, keeping the airplane safe." I'll admit it: It's tempting to compare this system to iPhone's Siri. That would be a mistake. No offense, Siri, but this woman is much more sophisticated. Before this voice recognition system executes a command, a pilot double-checks its work. That means no voice command is ever executed until the pilot confirms the command is correct. The pilot does that by pressing the control stick's little red button. Would passengers be comfortable with airline pilots steering via voice commands? Would they feel safe? "I'm gonna have to think about that idea," a fellow passenger tells me later at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson airport. "I can't tell you how many times my phone misspells my voice dictation. I think I'd feel more comfortable if the pilot just flew the regular way." Boeing 777 airliner pilot Keith Wolzinger doesn't think voice recognition steering is all that necessary. "I'm a bit skeptical," he tells me. With two pilots in the cockpit, responding to controller commands doesn't take a lot of time, Wolzinger says. "I'd communicate with air traffic control and I'd just ask my first officer to make the turn." In the simulator, Shapiro lets me test the technology while I "fly" over a simulated Mount Rainier in Washington state. I wonder, does it respond to whispers? I whisper a command into the headset. The voice repeats back my command perfectly. I push the little red button. The plane turns. What about screw-ups? What if a pilot accidentally speaks into the headset and says something random? I say, "Let's go out to dinner in Los Angeles!" Does the voice system freak out? Nope. "Say again," she says. It didn't understand, because the system only recognizes legitimate, preprogrammed commands. What about accents? Does it understand Southern American twang? I give it my best -- followed by English with a French-ish twist. Yep, it understands. Would voice recognition ever replace the traditional yoke and stick that pilots use to steer? "I think you're always going to need some type of manual control of the aircraft," says Shapiro. Of course Rockwell Collins doesn't call this the Advanced Technology Center for nothing. The stuff in here won't see the commercial market for at least a decade -- if ever. So steering by voice has a long way to go before it even gets close to entering the flight deck of your airliner. In these rooms, Rockwell Collins has been designing cockpit systems for business jet makers and airliner manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus for decades. It also creates technology for military aircraft all around the world. Suddenly, as we walk down a hallway, I see a pair of glossy black fighter pilot helmets being rolled on a cart. "What are these?" I ask. Turns out they're the next generation of pilot helmets with built-in visual displays: the StrikeEye. Imagine a fighter pilot helmet that projects a data-rich visual display in front of the pilot's eyes. That kind of system could help pilots have a better visual sense of everything around them: buildings, landscape and other aircraft. This helmet creates a virtual 360-degree 3-D view that allows pilots to "see" THROUGH the aircraft itself and scan the horizon and the ground below. StrikeEye is nearly identical to helmets Rockwell Collins provides to Lockheed Martin for U.S. military pilots of the F-35. I've gotta ask: "Do you mind if I try one on?" Shapiro laughs. No, that's not gonna happen. In fact, a lot of new cockpit technology coming in the next 25 years includes jaw- dropping video-game-like graphics and 3-D displays. Here's another example: We all know that blinding rain, snow or clouds result in countless flight delays or cancellations every year. But what if pilots could fly through blinding weather with the help of a real-time video display of the landscape that looks like the real thing? The technology exists. Shapiro shows me what the industry calls "synthetic vision" and "enhanced vision" technology. This sort of thing is already available aboard some business jets. Synthetic vision uses GPS and super-detailed maps to "see" through clouds by creating a virtual reality view of the landscape ahead, displayed on a small screen in front of the pilot. Enhanced vision uses infrared sensors that work like "X-ray vision" through bad weather. If airlines embraced these kinds of systems, it could significantly reduce delays and cancellations, manufacturers say. That might lead to lower fares and happier travelers who get where they want to go, when they need to get there. Another emerging cockpit technology: touch-screen steering. We already control navigation systems in our cars with touch screens. Eventually, airline pilots may be able to steer with them. With the touch of a console display screen, pilots could execute precise turns and changes in speed. Touch-screen steering, voice recognition, synthetic vision, Shapiro says, all point toward a future when airliners will be flown by one pilot instead of two. Shapiro says the industry is looking at the possibility of reducing typical airline flight crews to one pilot in the cockpit and one support person on the ground. The support person would likely be ready at any time to help the pilot if anything goes wrong. But that's many years down the road, if ever. Is the industry moving toward a day when airliners will fly themselves? In other words, will human airline pilots be obsolete someday? "I certainly think that wešre moving toward pilotless airliners," Shapiro says. The technology already exists, he points out -- look at the rapid development of large, unmanned drones, for example. But the public would be slow to accept the technology and to have faith in it, Shapiro says. Overall, "itšs going to take, I think, quite a long time before all those pieces come together." http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/31/travel/future-of-travel-cockpit- technology/index.html?eref=rss_latest Back to Top U.S. Export-Import Bank saga risks Boeing jet orders - Ethiopian Airlines Oct 8 (Reuters) - Ethiopian Airlines told Boeing Co in a letter that the shutdown of the U.S. Export-Import Bank raised concerns about the airline's ability to take delivery of Boeing jets already ordered and would force it to reevaluate future orders. Boeing, which is fighting to get the trade bank reauthorized by Congress, on Thursday released the letter, saying the airline had 27 airplanes on order with a value of more than $3.8 billion at current list prices. Of those, 21 planes are officially listed on Boeing's website as purchased by Ethiopian Airlines, with a value of $2.5 billion, according to a company spokesman. Most of the planes in question, Boeing 737 MAX jetliners, are not due for delivery until at least 2017. Ethiopian did not discuss the potential impact on a reported order for 15-20 Boeing 777X aircraft that it is expected to place before year-end. But Ethiopian Airlines Chief Executive Tewolde GebreMariam told Boeing in the letter dated Oct. 3 that uncertainty about the future of the bank had put Boeing "at a competitive disadvantage relative to manufacturers in other countries that continue to support their export credit agencies." Unless Congress revived the bank, Ethiopian Airlines would have to reevaluate future U.S. aircraft orders at a time when it is finalizing plans to double its fleet to 150 aircraft by 2025, he said, suggesting it could turn to Europe's Airbus Group instead. Boeing, EXIM's biggest beneficiary with $7 billion worth of loans and guarantees last year, released a similar letter last week from South Africa's Comair Ltd that involved $1.1 billion in aircraft orders. Boeing has also lost two satellite orders since the bank's charter lapsed at the end of June, halting its lending, loan guarantees and trade insurance. Boeing spokeswoman Kate Bernard said the company had heard similar concerns from other airlines and could see more letters in coming days. "Customers have come to us with their concerns and they want to know what they can do to help," she said, when asked if Boeing had orchestrated a letter-writing campaign. A small group of Republicans have targeted the bank as an example of "corporate welfare." Supporters say it allows U.S. companies to compete overseas, and produced $675 million in revenue for federal coffers last year. Boeing and other EXIM backers hope to resuscitate the bank in coming weeks, with a group of House Republicans and Democrats aiming to put the issue to a vote through a rarely effective procedural maneuver known as a discharge petition. Ethiopian's GebreMariam said EXIM financing allowed the airline to fund large, long-term acquisitions and borrow in its own currency, which lowered exchange rate risk. He added that the airline had never defaulted on any EXIM guarantees. http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/10/08/boeing-ethiopian-eximbank- idUSL1N12819X20151008 Back to Top China plane maker reveals stealth jet capabilities to lure buyers China's top aircraft manufacturer has revealed specifications of an advanced stealth fighter jet in a bid to lure foreign buyers, the official China Daily reported on Friday. In a rare disclosure, the state-owned Aviation Industry Corp of China (Avic) unveiled the capabilities of the J-31 aircraft at an aviation show, even though the jet is still being tested, the newspaper said. Avic officials have made no secret of the fact that they are seeking foreign buyers for the aircraft, hoping to compete with Lockheed Martin's F-35. Countries that cannot buy weaponry from the United States have increasingly sought them from China, particularly because Chinese arms are often cheaper. Avic said the fifth-generation fighter jet, which has a 1,200 km (750-mile) combat range and a top speed of 2,205 kph (1,370 mph), is designed to be in service for up to 30 years, the China Daily reported. It has a maximum payload capacity of 8 metric tons, the newspaper said. An Avic executive said last year the jet could "take down" foreign rivals in the sky. The twin-engine J-31 took its maiden flight in 2012. Defense analysts have often compared the jet to the U.S.-made F-35, and U.S. officials have speculated that China may have used cyber espionage to acquire classified knowledge about the aircraft's development. Stealth aircraft are vital to China developing the ability to carry out both offensive and defensive operations, the Pentagon has said in a report about developments in China's military. The J-31 is China's second domestically produced stealth fighter jet. President Xi Jinping has pushed to toughen the 2.3 million-strong armed forces as the country takes a more assertive stance in the region, particularly in the South China and East China seas. http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/10/09/us-china-military- idUSKCN0S30WQ20151009 Back to Top Wifi in the sky finally set to get speed upgrade: New system will combine satellite and ground systems to give broadband-type speeds * Alcatel, Inmarsat and Deutsche Telecom developing system * Will be tested on European short haul flights in 2017 * Claimed it will give the same speed in flight as on the ground Passengers on European short haul flights are set to trial a radical new technology that could finally bring high speed internet to the skies. The new system will combine a satellite with with high speed LTE base stations on the ground. The firms behind it say it will offer a 'seamless' transition for customers, giving them the same high speed connections on the ground and in the sky. The new system from Alcatel, Inmarsat and Deutsche Telecom will combine a satellite with with high speed LTE base stations on the ground. WIFI ON US FLIGHTS U.S. airline passengers already have a chance of accessing Wi-Fi on 66 percent of miles flown, against a worldwide average of 24 percent, according to data from Routehappy, which rates flights worldwide on amenities such as seats and entertainment. In Europe, adoption of a ground-to-air service such as that in the United States, is harder due to the number of countries in the region, while satellite-based services have been too costly for short flights. 'For years, flying has been a communications black-out leaving both business and personal travellers alike feeling out of touch when in the air,' said Wilhelm Dresselhaus, CEO of Alcatel-Lucent Germany. 'We are proud to be an integral technology provider for Deutsche Telekom's LTE-based ground network effort by adapting our LTE RAN solution to the Inmarsat S-band spectrum. 'Together, we are able to provide travellers in Europe with high-speed data connectivity in the air.' Lufthansa, which has so far offered wireless internet only on long-haul flights, will trial the service in 2017 as it seeks new ways to generate revenue from its passengers. Pricing will depend on cabin class and ticket pricing, Chief Executive Carsten Spohr told journalists in Frankfurt. Lufthansa is to offer the new service on 180 of its planes. 'The provision of reliable, consistent broadband connectivity aboard our planes, which will match that of high-speed home broadband in terms of speed and quality, is of extreme importance to us,' Lufthansa Chief Executive Carsten Spohr said in a statement. A new paper documents the intricate arrangement of the muscles and ligaments that controlled the main feathers of the wing of an ancient bird, supporting the notion that at least some of the most ancient birds performed aerodynamic feats in a fashion similar to those of many living birds. Spohr said customers placed a high value on staying connected, with 85 percent willing to give up other amenities on board to get Internet coverage. However, it will not allow voice calls. 'The explicit wish of our customers is not to allow phone calls on board, and I promise you we will guarantee this very last privilege of privacy,' he told reporters. Deutsche Telekom said it would build a network of 300 high-capacity 4G base stations across Europe using dedicated spectrum that would connect to aircraft, with coverage switching to an Inmarsat satellite when the flight was over the sea. Lufthansa is expected to trial the new system on short haul flights in 2017 The European Aviation Network (EAN) will consist of an LTE ground network component, provided by Alcatel-Lucent - using its specially adapted radios and IP Mobile Core - combined with a satellite network component. 'Passengers will be able to use their Wi-Fi enabled personal mobile devices to enjoy mobile data access using the seamless transition between the LTE ground network and the satellite network,' the firms say. IN FLIGHT WIFI AROUND THE WORLD - 52 airlines worldwide now offer in-flight Wi-Fi in most regions of the globe - Flyers have at least 'some' chance of Wi-Fi on 24 per cent of flights worldwide. - U.S. airlines offer at least 'some' chance of Wi-Fi on 66 per cent of their flights nation wide - Non-U.S. airlines offering at least 'some' chance on 15 per cent of their international flights - Nine non-U.S. airlines now offer at least a 'very good' chance of Wi-Fi - These include Japan, Emirates, Aeroflot, Iberia, Lufthansa, Singapore, Etihad, Norwegian, and Icelandair, with the latter two surpassing 80 per cent - Delta offers the most flights and flight miles with Wi-Fi of all airlines, by far - United has most international planes with Wi-Fi and uniquely offers 'best' Wi-Fi - Virgin America, Alaska, United lead on offering both Wi-Fi and power on the same flights Overall, it found that Virgin America had the the highest percentage of total flights and flight miles with Wi-Fi. Southwest came in at second, JetBlue third and Delta fourth The companies said the Deutsche Telekom network of 300 LTE, or long term evolution, sites will have an effective signal-transmission range of 80 kilometers, compared to 10 kilometers or less for conventional LTE sites. As is the case with Chicago-based Gogo Inc.'s air-to-ground service in the United States, the Inmarsat/Deutsche Telekom network will operate with aircraft once they reach an altitude of about 3 kilometers. Aircraft connections will move between Inmarsat's S-band satellite and the Deutsche Telekom-operated ground network so as to provide continuous connectivity to passengers. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3265665/Wifi-sky-finally-set-speed- upgrade-New-combine-satellite-ground-systems-won-t-able-make-phone- calls.html#ixzz3o41hmQ3G Back to Top NASA Report Details Long-Range Plans for Astronauts to Live on Mars * Report foresees reusable supplies, spacecraft intended to remain dormant for long period, and mobile fuel depots scattered around the solar system * A NASA report spells out a strategy to develop and test essential technologies from electric propulsion to radiation shields to possibly using solar power or fission to produce liquid oxygen propellant on Mars.. ENLARGE * A NASA report spells out a strategy to develop and test essential technologies from electric propulsion to radiation shields to possibly using solar power or fission to produce liquid oxygen propellant on By ANDY PASZTOR NASA laid out its most detailed plan yet to eventually land humans on Mars, including plans for a deep-space platform dedicated to testing equipment while protecting astronauts through years of preparation. In addition to such extensive preliminary efforts, the 36-page report envisions reusable supplies to feed and otherwise sustain crews. It predicts modular spacecraft intended to remain dormant for much of a decade. And it foresees mobile fuel depots-or alternate propulsion sources provided by minerals extracted from planets or asteroids-scattered around the solar system. Ultimately, scientists at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration anticipate Mars landers that will be at least 30 times heavier than the robotic spacecraft that have touched down on the Red Planet so far; and communications links to Earth would need to be hundreds of times faster. The report, which appears to track NASA's previous projected timeline of transporting astronauts at least into orbit around Mars by the mid-2030s, comes amid escalating criticism from House Republicans that the White House and NASA are scrimping on funding the building blocks to achieve such ambitious goals. These critics contend the agency wants to shift hundreds of millions of dollars annually to commercial taxis and cargo craft servicing the international space station in low-earth orbit, at the expense of a new rocket and capsule targeting missions deeper into space. Those issues are slated to be debated Friday during a hearing of the House Science Committee's space subcommittee. The document, initially set for release before NASA's confirmation last month of liquid water flowing on the surface of Mars, spells out an incremental strategy to develop and test essential technologies from electric propulsion to radiation shields to possibly using solar power or fission to produce liquid oxygen propellant on Mars itself. "We are developing the capabilities to get there, land there and live there," according to the report, by relying on an "evolutionary, resilient framework." Unlike the 1960s-era Apollo program that saw U.S. astronauts stay briefly on the moon, NASA emphasized that its vision for reaching and exploring Mars is different. "We will be going to stay," the report says, indicating that a typical manned, round-trip voyage could stretch for more than 1,000 days. While the general thrust of the document tracks NASA's preparatory work, it offers the most specific and spirited defense to date of how NASA eventually seeks to land hundreds of tons of equipment and supplies, perhaps spanning multiple flights, on Mars. Despite all the caveats about unknown challenges and language stressing that technical developments and testing will determine the pace of progress, some of the report still reads akin to science fiction. Discussing the need for "a completely new approach" when it comes to putting humans and their equipment down at a Martian landing site, the document indicates that "supersonic retropropulsion"-or a braking mechanism operating faster than the speed of sound-"may be necessary to provide safe and accurate" descent. Even some senior NASA managers have acknowledged that agency leaders have failed to lay out a coherent, long-term scientific and budgetary trajectory able to spark congressional or public enthusiasm. According to the report, however, global cooperation will be an essential ingredient in generating future support. The plan "builds on our existing international partnerships while embracing new ones." A big part of NASA's current plans focus on testing the Orion manned capsule, being built by a team headed by Lockheed Martin Corp. During a return to Earth from a potential deep-space mission, the spacecraft would be subjected to temperatures much higher than those encountered by capsules currently shuttling to and from the space station. To begin moving beyond low-earth orbit, NASA is betting on a heavy-lift rocket, dubbed the SLS, which is slated to make its maiden launch over the next several years. Another important and controversial building block on the path to Mars is something NASA calls an "asteroid redirect mission." Some time in the next decade, NASA hopes to snare an asteroid and grab samples for analysis. The report doesn't provide any budget estimates. But it notes that "near term" projects can be funded with current budgets, and longer-term efforts are expected to be supported by future "budgets commensurate with economic growth." From its introduction, the report sketches out a positive approach by stressing that "Mars is an achievable goal." It goes on to note that already "we have spent more than four decades on the journey" to the Red Planet "with wildly successful robotic explorers." And like previous pioneering endeavors, according to the report, the overall journey to Mars is bound to "foster and attract new commercial enterprises." http://www.wsj.com/articles/nasa-report-details-long-range-plans-for-astronauts-to- live-on-mars-1444365301 Back to Top Scientists get taste for space flight at Embry-Riddle Scientists get taste for space flight Dr. Shawna Pandya wears a spacesuit while flying in the suborbital space flight simulator with Professor David Williams while participating in a training exercise at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach. News-Journal/NIGEL COOK Sheathed in a one-size-fits-all jumpsuit, Dr. Shawna Pandya looked relieved as the pressurized air coarsed through the orange fabric. It was the first time Pandya donned a spacesuit, and aside from the difficulty flexing her arms and legs, "It's actually quite comfy." A small cadre of people followed her into a cramped, low-lit room where she will got her first taste of suborbital flight. Pandya, 31, of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, was one of about two dozen candidates at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University this week, testing the limits of their bodies in a simulated flight to the edge of the earth's atmosphere. No one who has gone through Project PoSSUM, which stands for Polar Suborbital Science in the Upper Mesosphere, has ever made the journey. But program coordinators are preparing "scientist-astronaut" candidates to study the relationship between space clouds and the earth's climate. Their first trip is expected in July 2017. Until then Pandya can only emulate the appearance of an astronaut. She climbed inside the simulator, her legs barely making it over the joystick, before they prepared to launch. Capable of reaching an altitude of more than 100 kilometers, the real rocketplane that they will fly is being produced by XCOR Aerospace, a California-based company. The training began on Sunday. The candidates climbed into a hyperbaric chamber in Melbourne to experience the early symptoms of hypoxia, an illness that occurs when the body does not have enough oxygen. The cognitive functions slow down, said Pedro Llanos, one of the candidates. "It was great because you need to learn about your own capability while ... navigating or flying before you pass out," he said of the exercise. Llanos, 35, who is an assistant professor of commercial space operations at Embry- Riddle, didn't learn of the program until recently. It was mentioned by another professor, Antonio Cortes, chair of the applied aviation sciences department. Program coordinators wanted to use the school's flight simulator as a training ground. PoSSUM was started as a non-profit to train people to conduct research on clouds and climate. Every year applicants are chosen to take part in the week-long training. Conducted every October, the battery of courses cost about $6,000. While the training prepares participants for space flight, there is no guarantee, according to its website. Participants also need a bachelor's degree in engineering or some other technology- related field. Many of those chosen this year have advanced degrees in medicine, engineering or one of the life sciences. Pandya, for example, studied space studies at the International Space University in France. "I've been helping people understand the space medicine aspect of things," she said. "My colleagues have been helping me understand the physics aspects of things." Project PoSSUM joins a number of private initiatives pushing to transport everyday citizens to the edge of space. It's in the area about 50 miles above sea-level known as the mesosphere where a vehicle can be propelled by a rocket and cruise in space for a few minutes before descending back to earth. That's where billionaire Richard Branson, tech whiz Jeff Bezos and investor Elon Musk want to explore with commercial flights. Branson's Virgin Galactic strives to allow the most well-heeled a chance to touch the edge of the world, riding a so-called space plane to get there. The price for one ticket? Upwards of $250,000, according to the Associated Press. Branson's effort has not been without a few hiccups, notably a catastrophic crash during a test flight over the Mojave Desert about one year ago. But Project Possum is not space travel for its own sake, said Jason Reimuller, principal investigator for PoSSUM. Participants will study, among other things, how clouds located at the edge of the atmosphere relate to the earth's climate. The clouds are most visible above the polar regions, so they're looking at Alaska and Sweden as potential launch locations, Reimuller said. "We focus just on the science," Reimuller said, "we're not about tourism." http://www.news- journalonline.com/article/20151007/NEWS/151009622?Title=Scientists-get-taste-for- space-flight-at-Embry-Riddle Back to Top Airport Cooperative Research Project Back to Top iSMS - Safety Management System Training Back to Top Upcoming Events: Fundamentals of IS-BAO November 2, 2015 Hong Kong, China https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1724162 IS-BAO Auditing November 3, 2015 Hong Kong, China https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=1724176 BARS Auditor Training Washington DC? Tuesday-Thursday 5-7 April http://flightsafety.org/bars/auditor-training OSHA & Aviation Ground Safety Training Course (ERAU) Oct. 19-23, 2015 Daytona Beach, FL www.erau.edu/cmas Aviation Safety Program Management Training Course (ERAU) Oct. 26-30, 2015 Daytona Beach, FL www.erau.edu/cmas Aircraft Accident Investigation Training Course (ERAU) Nov. 2-6, 2015 Daytona Beach, FL www.erau.edu/cmas Air Cargo Safety and Security Symposium ALPA Washington, DC November 5, 2015 http://aircargoconference.alpa.org Aviation Safety Management Systems (SMS) Seminar (ERAU) Nov. 17-19, 2015 Daytona Beach, FL www.erau.edu/sms Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Seminar (ERAU) Dec. 8-10, 2015 Daytona Beach, FL www.erau.edu/uas New HFACS workshop Las Vegas December 15 & 16 www.hfacs.com 2016 DTI SMS/QA Symposium January 3, 4, & 5 2016 Disney World, FL 1-866-870-5490 www.dtiatlanta.com Back to Top JOBS AVAILABLE: Aerospace Tenure-Track Faculty Middle Tennessee State University http://mtsujobs.mtsu.edu/postings/2124 Aerospace (UAS), Tenure-Track Faculty Middle Tennessee State University http://mtsujobs.mtsu.edu/postings/2125 *IOSA FLT Auditors *Experienced Trainers in the area of Safety Management Systems *Quality Control Specialist *Manager Quality Assurance and Quality Control Aviation Quality Services GmbH www.aviation-quality-services.com Flight Training Human Factors Specialist Emirates www.emirates.com/careers Curt Lewis